Cohocton Wind Watch is a community citizen organization dedicated to preserve the public safety, property values, economic viability, environmental integrity and quality of life in Cohocton, NY and in surrounding townships. Neighbors committed to public service in order to achieve a reasonable vision for a Finger Lakes region worthy of future generations.

Monday, January 28, 2008

URGENT: US Senate and the wind PTC by Glenn Schleede

Below is a letter sent to Senators Reid, McConnell, Baucus and Grassley last Friday, January 25, asking for a long-term extension of renewable and energy efficiency tax provisions including, of course, the wind Production Tax Credit. The letter has 33 signatures, 9 from Senators on the Finance Committee (Cantwell, Snowe, Wyden, Smith, Kerry, Salazar, Stabenow, Sununu, and Schumer).

The addressees are, respectively:

Senate Committee on Finance

The Honorable Charles Grassley

Ranking Member

Senate Committee on Finance

Apparently, the letter is still being circulated for additional signatures with the idea of resending it on Wednesday. The staff people pushing this letter on behalf of the renewable industries apparently are:

Amit Ronen (Cantwell) 224-3441

Patrick Woodcock (Snowe) 224-5344

I would urge you to consider contacting your Senators and urging them to (a) back off if they have already signed, and (b) not sign if they haven't already.

In addition to all the arguments against wind energy that you already know, you could point out to them that the renewable energy industries already get a huge disproprotionate amount of tax breaks and subsidies.

WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EITHER THE CURRENT OR THE EXPECTED LONG TERM (2030) CONTRIBUTION OF RENEWABLES TO THE NATIONS ENERGY REQUIREMENTS.

We strongly support current bipartisan efforts to mitigate an economic downturn by providing direct financial relief to American families. At the same time, we believe that we must be cognizant that energy prices have been a leading cause of our current economic environment.

Accordingly, we strongly believe that we must provide a timely long-term extension of clean energy and energy efficiency tax incentives that expire at the end of this year. Given record energy prices and growing demand, postponing action on these critical energy incentives will only exacerbate the problems afflicting our economy. In fact, these renewable energy and energy efficiency investments have a verifiable record of stimulating capital outlays and promoting job growth. We must ensure that this impressive record is maintained in 2008 and extend these tax credits expeditiously.

Over one hundred thousand Americans could be put to work in 2008 if clean energy production tax credits were extended in the first quarter of this year according to industry estimates.

However, because the incentives are set to expire this year, renewable energy companies are already reporting a precipitous decrease in investment due to uncertainty. Projects currently underway may soon be mothballed. Clean energy incentives for energy efficient buildings appliances and other technologies, as well as additional funding for weatherizing homes, would similarly serve to stimulate 2008economic consumption, lower residential energy costs, and generate new manufacturing and construction jobs.

Failing to act on these crucial incentives could choke off promising business investment in 2008 and miss an opportunity to address high energy costs, a critical contributor to sinking consumer confidence and our nation's long-term economic challenges. Extending these expiring clean energy tax credits will help ensure a stronger, more stable environment for new investments and ensure continued robust growth in a bright spot in an otherwise slowing economy. To that end we look forward to working with you to extend these critical tax incentives in context of encouraging economic growth and vitality.

Risks of Industrial Wind Turbines is a group of citizens and organizations dedicated to preserve the public safety, property values, economic viability, environmental integrity and quality of life of residents and future generations.